Duke  University  Libraries 

Message  of  the 
Conf  Pam  #320 


3I1ESSAGE  OF  THE  PRESIDEINT. 

Richmond,  Va.,  Jan.  5,  1865, 

To  the  House  of  Representatives  : 

Iq  response  to  your  resolution  of  the  80th  ult.,  I  herewith  transHiit  a 
commanication  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  which  conveys  the  infor- 
mation that  "  no  coals  were  taken  from  the  steamer  'Advance,'  in  October 
last,  or  at  any  other  time,  for  the  naval  service." 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 


COMMUNICATION  OF  SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAVY. 

CONFKDHR.VTE     StATKS    OK    AMERICA,  ^ 

Navy  Department,  ^ 

Richmond,  January  4,  1865.      ) 

The  President  : 

Sir  : — I  have  the  honor  to  state,  in  response  to  the  following  resolution  of 
the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  BOth  ultimo  : 

•'  Resolved,  That  the  President  be  requested  to  inform  this  House  whether 
coals  were  taken  from  the  steamer  Advance  for  the  navaj  service,  in  October 
last,  and  if  so,  what  quantity  was  taken,  and  the  circumstances  under  which 
the  same  was  taken," 

That  no  coals  were  taken  from  the  steamer  Advance  in   October  last,  or  at 
any  other  time,  for  the  naval  service,  as  appears  from  the  following  reports  : 

"  Wilmington,  N.  C,  Nov.  28,1864. 
"  Flag;  Officer,  R.  F.  Pinknbt,  Comd'g,  ikc, 

"  Sir  : — 111  reply  to  your  verbal  enquiry  in  reference  to  the  impressment 
of  coal  on  this  station,  for  the  use  of  the  C.  S.  cruisers  that  have  recently 
sailed  from  this  port,  I  have  tlie  honor  to  state,  that  not  one  particle  of  coal 
was  taken  from  the  steamer  'Advance,'  nor  one  pound  impressed  to  which 
the  State,  or  any  of  the  joint  owners  of  that  steamer  had  the  slightest  claim. 
When  the  steamers  Let  her  13  and  Florio  were  beiug  fitted  out,  a  portion  of 
the  coal  necessary  for  the  supply  of  those  steamers  was  taken  from  the 
wharf  of  Messrs.  Power,  Low  i^'  Co.,  the  agents  and  past  owners  of  the  Ad- 
vance; but  I  was  distinctly  informed  by  a  member  of  that  firm  that  this  coal 
belonged  to  three  difterent  steamers  not  then  in  port.  To  one  of  these 
steamers  I  had  lent  about  twenty  tons  of  N.  C.  coal,  to  be  returaed  in  Eu- 
gliah  coal,  and  the  quautity  taken  from  her  just  satisfied  my  claim.  The 
other  two  steamers,  as  I  have  said,  were  not  then  in  port,  and  tte  coal 
that  belonged  to  them  was  lying  there  waiting  their  reluro.  It  is  now  al- 
ledg'jd  by  the  agents  of  the  Advance  that,  as  they  had  the  control  of  this 
coal,  it  might  have  been  available  for  the  Advance,   if   the  government  had 


not  imprefsed  it.  This,  however,  is  a  mere  probability,  as  the  other  steam- 
ers belonging  to  this  firm  might  in  the  meantime  have  come  in  short  of  fuel, 
to  which  this  coal  would  undoubtedly  have  been  given.  At  any  rate,  it  did 
not  belong  to  the  Advance,  nor  was  it  retained  for  her  exclusive  use.  And 
its  being  appropriated  to  her  use  depended  upon  a  mere  contingency— 
namely,  her  not  hciBg  preceded  into  port  by  other  vcsecIs  with  an  insuffi- 
ciency of  coal  for  their  outward  voyage.  It  will  be  seen  then  that. the  ex- 
traordirary  statement  ventured  upon  by  Gov.  Vance,  in  his  late  annual  mes- 
sage, that  the  loss  of  the  Advance  is  attributable  solely  to  the  impressment 
of  coal  by  the  C.  S.  Government,  has  very  little  fomndation  in  fact" 
Yery  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  A.  WILLARD, 

Naval  Coal  Agent. 
Forwarded  by  R.  F.  Pinkncy,  Capt,  iV:c.,  ike." 

"  Wilmington,  Dec.  29, 1864. 
"  Hon.  S.  R.  Mallory  : 

"  No  coal  was  taken  from  the  Advance,  nor  any  belonging  to  her,  for  the 
Tallahassee,  or  any  other  vessel.  I  sent  a  report  to  this  effect  from  the  local 
agent  here  some  time  aoo. 

R.  F.  PINKNEY, 

Comd'g,  I'cc,  ikc' 

I  am  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  R.  MALLORY, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


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